Packing extractor

ABSTRACT

An opened helix is attached at a first end thereof to a coupling that is concentrically mounted on a shaft encircled at a point along its length with packing material. The opposite end of the helix is adapted to pry into a slit formed in the packing material. As the helix is rotated, the packing material is extracted. A wrench or similar tool is used to produce rotation of the helix.

llnited States Patent Johnston, Jr. [4 1 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] PACKING EXTRACTOR 2,822,713 2/1958 Schmidt ..81/8.1 [72] Inventor: wmhm P. Johnston Jr El Dorado Ark" 3,443,4y6p0 5/1969 Johnston, Jr ..8l/8.l I73] Amligncez Dnvld R. Rummy, El Dorado, Ark. a part FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS interest 9,231 1913 Great Britain ..8 l/8.1 Filed: Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon [21] Appl. No.: 74,718 Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker, Jr.

Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [52] US. Cl 81/8-1 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..B25b 27/00 [58] Field ofSenrch ..s1/s.1, 3; 29/427 Ansopened helix is attached at a first end thereof to a coupling that is concentrically mounted on a shaft encircled at a point 56] References Cited along its length with packing material. The opposite end of the helix is adapted to pry into a slit formed in the packing materi- UNITED STATES PATENTS al. As the helix is rotated, the packing material is extracted. A

' wrench or similar tool is used to produce rotation of the helix. 1,635,743 7/1927 Davenport ..81/8.l 2,401,043 5/1946 Bowman et al. ..81/8.]

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEHMARZB m2 8.651.717

SHEET :1. or 2 dammfon, Jr.

IN VENTOK.

The present invention relates to a hand tool for extracting packing material from pumps, valves, and other equipment having packing around an actuating rod or shaft.

The present invention is an improvement of my US. Pat. 3,443,460,dated May 13, 1969.

The previously patented deviceincluded an open helix with an extended handle which allowed extraction of packing material as the handle is rotated about a shaft or rod. The axis of the helix is maintained in generally colinear relation with the axis of a rod or shaft around which packing material is placed. By exerting lever forces on the handle, the prying outward tip of the helix engages the packing material and causes its extraction.

Although the patented device operates satisfactorily the inclusion of a long handle prohibits use in close quarters or confined spaces.

The present invention is considered to be an improvement on the aforementioned patent whereby a helix can be caused to extract the packing material even though there is insufficient room for an elongated handle. This is accomplished by terminating the driven end of a helix in a coupling concentrically mounted on the rod or shaft of a valve, pump, or other mechanism.

become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FlG. l is a perspective view illustrating the disposition of the present invention on a valve.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view illustrating the means for coupling the extractor tool to the stem of the valve pictured in F 1G. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded detail view of the components comprising the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a simplified form of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the disposition of the present invention on a pump piston rod. Referring to the drawings and more particularly FlG. 1 thereof, reference numeral 10 generally indicates the packing extraction tool forming the present invention. In order to understand the structure and operation of the invention, an exemplary valve generally indicated by reference numeral 12 is shown with a packing recess 16 formed in the upper bonnet portion 14. A rod or stem 18 extends axially through the valve 12 and serves to operate it in the usual manner. Conventional packing washer-like-elements 20 embrace the lower end of the stem 18, the elements being received in recess 16. Conventionally, a retainer nut 22 is slidably mounted on the stem 18 and is employed to secure the packing elements 20 within the recess 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, the components making up the present invention will be seen to include a main member generally indicated by reference numeral 24 that has a head portion in the form of a semicylindrical element 26 which includes a semiannular outer end 28 and a similarly shaped surface 30 on the opposite side of the cylindrical element. The interior of element 26 is smooth as indicated by reference numeral 32 and is adapted to have a diameter substantially equal to the outer elements 20 (FIG. 1) and dislodge them from the recess 16.

The tip can be sharpened to cut the elements during prying. The inner diameter of helix 40 must be somewhat greater than stem 18 to allow easy rotation of the helix with respect to the stem. However, the outer. diameter of the helix must be smaller than the diameter of recess 16 to allow freedom of movement of the helix within the recess. Further, the helix should include at least one full turn of 360 while the length of the helix should be greater than the depth of recess 16 to allow full penetration of the helix within the recess.

A second component of the extraction tool is indicated by 44 and will be seen to be identical with the semicylindrical element 26 previously discussed. Accordingly, the component 44 includes a threaded portion 46 that mates with the threaded portion 38 and the upper outer end 47 is disposed in contiguous relation with the mating surface 28 on the semicylindrical element 26.

In order to retain the parts 44 and 26 together, a locking member 48 is employed. The locking member may be in the form of a split annular member having threads formed along the interior surface thereof. A U-shaped slot 50 is formed in diameter of stem 18 (FIG. 1). Openings 36 are formed the member 48 to allow the member 48 to be slipped over the threaded portions 38 and 46 of parts 26 and 44, respectively. Thus, with the two separate parts26 and 44 placed in mating relation on a stem 18, a continuous threaded surface is presented to receive the threaded portion 52 in member 48. Once the member 48 embraces both parts 26 and 44, these parts are locked together to form an integral unit. Of course, other expedients for fastening the two parts 26 and 44 together can be used for example, a hinge and clasp would achieve the same result.

In operation of the present tool, the retainer nut 22 (FIG. 1) is displaced from its normal clamping relation against the packing elements 20, atop bonnet portion l4. This allows sufficient room to install the extraction tool 10 on stem 18. The lower prying tip of the helix is made to contact the packing elements 20 by exerting downward pressure on the tool 10. This causes the tool to slide downwardly until contact is made with the packing elements 20. A spanner wrench 54 having a projection 56 extending from one of the wrench arms 57 is positioned to be received by groove 34 (FIG. 1) and the projection 56 (FIG. 4) is made to engage a conveniently located opening 36 in the tool. Then, by rotating the wrench 54 with ratchet type movement, the lower prying tip 42 of the helix 40 engages a slit 58 formed in the upper packing element 20. As the wrench 54 continues to be rotated, the helix 40 is rotated and the prying tip causes extraction of the packing element 20. As will be noted in FIG. 1, the material of the packing element is made to slide along the upper surface of the helix 40 during extraction. After several turns of the wrench, the entire material of the packing elements 20 will be extracted.

in order to appreciate the ability of the tool to operate in a confined space, reference is made to FIG. 6 wherein the present tool is shown to be employed on the shaft 66 of a pump 60. The pump illustrated has a central body 62 and closely spaced yoke members 64 extend upwardly therefrom. The pump shaft 66 is concentrically disposed in relation to the pump body 62 and is positioned in parallel spaced relation to the yoke members 64. A recess 68 is formed in the body of the pump 62, this recess receiving packing elements 70. The pump of the sort illustrated includes threaded studs 72 extending upwardly from the pump body 64 and a retainer plate 74, concentrically mounted on the shaft 66, is adapted to clamp against the packing elements 70. The clamping engagement is effected by forming openings 76 in the plate 74, these openings being in respective alignment with the threaded studs 72. After the threaded studs 72 pass through the openings 76 in plate 74, locking nuts (not shown) secure the plate 74 against the elements 70.

When the packing elements 70 are to be removed, the nuts aforementioned are removed from studs 72 and the plate 74 is displaced from its clamping engagement with the packing elements 70. Then, the extraction tool 10 is positioned on the shaft 66 of the pump 60 and by operating the wrench 54, as previously explained, between the closely spaced parallel yoke members 64, the helix 40 can be made to extract the packing elements 70.

Although a simple spanner wrench 54 is explained in the exemplary operation of the present invention, it will be appreciated that a ratchet type wrench can also be used when desired.

A simplified form of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the usual retainer nut 22 is modified to include a recess 78 within the lower surface thereof. This modified retainer nut 22 would be used in lieu of the ordinary retainer nut 22.

The recess 78 has a polygonal cross section so that it can serve as a keyway for a mating projection 84 that extends from the head portion 82 ofa helix 80. The lower end of helix 80 is indicated by reference numeral 82 and denotes a prying tip such as 42 (FIG. 4). When the modified retainer nut 22 is used with mechanisms such as valve 12, when the time arrives for replacing the packing elements 20, the retainer nut 22 is merely displaced from the bonnet portion of the valve and the helix member 80 is installed on stem 18 in a manner effecting keying engagement between projection 84 and recess 78. Then, the link assembly is lowered until the prying tip 82 makes contact with the slit 58 (FIG. 1) in the upper packing element. Then, by using a wrench on nut 22', the helix is rotated until all the packing material has been extracted.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

17 A packing extraction tool comprising a cylindrical helix adapted to encircle a shaft having extractable packing material therearound, the helix terminating at a first end in means concentric with the shaft for translating rotational motion to the helix, the opposite end of the helix terminating in a prying tip for engaging the packing material and extracting it from its original position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the helix includes at least one full turn of 360.

3. The structure of claim I wherein the translating means comprises a split coupling that embraces the shaft, and fastening means for selectively keeping the split coupling intact on the shaft.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the split coupling includes means formed therein which accept a wrench for rotating the coupling.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the coupling is characterized by two mating semi-cylindrical members, one of the members connecting the helix thereto, the members having an annular groove for receiving the wrench.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the semi-cylindrical members have mating threaded portions and further wherein the fastening means comprises a slotted lock ring that is threadably engaged with both members.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the translating means comprises a mounting member slidably mounted on the shaft, the mounting member having a slot formed therein to key a projection integrally connected to said first end of the helix. 

1. A packing extraction tool comprising a cylindrical helix adapted to encircle a shaft having extractable packing material therearound, the helix terminating at a first end in means concentric with the shaft for translating rotational motion to the helix, the opposite end of the helix terminating in a prying tip for engaging the packing material and extracting it from its original position.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the helix includes at least one full turn of 360*.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the translating means comprises a split coupling that embraces the shaft, and fastening means for selectively keeping the split coupling intact on the shaft.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the split coupling includes means formed thereiN which accept a wrench for rotating the coupling.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the coupling is characterized by two mating semi-cylindrical members, one of the members connecting the helix thereto, the members having an annular groove for receiving the wrench.
 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the semi-cylindrical members have mating threaded portions and further wherein the fastening means comprises a slotted lock ring that is threadably engaged with both members.
 7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the translating means comprises a mounting member slidably mounted on the shaft, the mounting member having a slot formed therein to key a projection integrally connected to said first end of the helix. 